Effects of second hand exposure to crack cocaine

Asked Sep 2, 2007, 03:49 AM
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4 Answers

I was smoking crack cocaine and methamphetamines in my room while my sister was in the adjacent room over a period of 4 days. She was diagnosed with leukimia at the age of three, went into remission at the age of five, and was diagnosed with a brain tumor at age ten. The doctors said it was a low grade astrocytoma located in the left side of the brain.
I was so messed up, I can't even believe I let myself put her in harms way like that. My question is, although she wasn't in the same room as me, she may have gone into my room when I left to go to work, and I was wondering if that could have been enough exposure to have damaged her. She had an aneurysm five months later, and I'm praying to God that it wasn't because of that. My mother said it was because the tumor grew in her head, and that I was just being paranoid, but I need a second opinion, because the feelings of guilt and doubt that I am experiencing are tremendous. If you have an answer for me, I'd greatly appreciate it.

07/29/2007 03:28AM
Question:
I live above someone who smokes crack on a regular basis and I can often smell the smoke in my apartment. Should I be worried about absorbing anything in my system? I have a heart murmer and am worried this could be harmful.

Answer:
I am not aware of any studies on the effects of second-hand crack smoke. I am familiar with some cases of infants (less than one-year old) who had negative health consequences as a result of living in the same places where individuals smoked large amounts of crack.

While there is a small chance that you are being exposed to some level of second-hand crack smoke, I am not sure that this level of exposure would be enough to cause you heart problems or other health problems. Certainly if you lived in the same apartment as the person smoking crack, your chances of exposure would be greatly increased.

If you had a urine drug screen done, and it showed cocaine in your urine, that would be one way to measure whether you had been exposed to second-hand crack smoke. However, before doing this, I would suggest that you speak to your primary care physician about your concerns.
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Melissa,

Even if it wasn't the reason for your sisters illness, I strongly advise you to get professional help and stop the drug use/abuse as I am sure you are exposing yourself to so many health risks by using drugs.
I hope you realise the situation you are in and get help fast.

Take Care

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Melissa,
Please read the following and get Help for yourself...
--------------------------------------------------------http://www.addict-help.com/crack-addiction.asp
Other complications associated with crack cocaine use include disturbances in heart rhythm and heart attacks, chest pain and respiratory failure, strokes, seizures and headaches, and gastrointestinal complications such as abdominal pain and nausea. Because crack cocaine has a tendency to decrease appetite, many chronic users can become malnourished. Different means of taking cocaine can produce different adverse effects. Regularly smoking of crack cocaine, for example, can lead to hoarseness, chronic coughing and lung cancer. Ingesting cocaine can cause severe bowel gangrene due to reduced blood flow.

Regardless of how cocaine is used or how frequently, a user can experience acute cardiovascular or cerebrovascular emergencies, such as a heart attack or stroke, which could result in sudden death. Cocaine-related deaths are often a result of cardiac arrest or seizure followed by respiratory arrest. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimated the number of current crack users to be over 1,000,000 in 2005.
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Crystal methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, is a powerfully addictive stimulant. It is associated with serious health conditions, including memory loss, aggression, psychotic behavior, and potential heart and brain damage. Crystal meth is a stimulant which dramatically affects the central nervous system. The drug is easily manufactured anywhere with basic, over-the-counter ingredients. Crystal meth, a form of methamphetamine, is also known as speed, chalk, ice, crank or glass. It is a white, odorless, crystalline powder. Crystal meth's structure is similar to amphetamine with more of an impact on the central nervous system. The drug releases high levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine into the part of the brain regulating feelings of pleasure. It usually causes increased activity, decreased appetite, and a heightened sense of well-being. It can be smoked, snorted, orally ingested or injected directly into the blood stream. Crystal meth has a very toxic effect on the human body. It is very dangerous and can cause convulsions, permanent severe body damage or death. Because of its stimulating effects, it is a very addictive drug. Chronic use often causes depression, anxiety, fatigue, paranoia and aggressive behavior. Crystal meth is a Schedule II stimulant, which means it has a high potential for abuse and is available only through a prescription that cannot be refilled.
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I know you were asking about your sister,
Hopefully someone will be alone shortly and help you with that a bit more than I could(as I am no expert in health or science issues).
I am a concerned member and I hope you will seek professional Help.

Take Care

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There is a commercial on the radio claiming that making meth in one apartment can cause health problems to people living in other apartments. I also believe that babies breathing second hand smoke can and do end up having seizures. You say you smoked in your room but that does not mean the smoke STAYED in your room. I can smell my neighbors smoking crack or weed in their back yard.

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